Donald 'Pete' Goodmon

Donald "Pete" Goodmon died on Jan. 25, 2013, at the age of 94, with his family by his side in Springdale, Ark. He was born on May 4, 1918, to Thomas and Cleo Greer Goodmon in Wilson County, Kan. Pete quit school during the Depression to go to work in construction and in his brothers' blacksmith shop to assist his family. In the 1940s, he became a member of the Pipe Fitters Local Union #430 in Tulsa, Okla. In 1951, he began working for Standard Oil, where he worked until early 1970. He then returned to the Pipe Fitters, where he remained until he retired. He met his wife Evelyn Holt in Caney, Kan., in 1938, and on Oct. 28, 1939, they ran away to Dewey, Okla., and were married. They made their life home in Neodesha, Kan., where they raised their daughter. Pete was known for his ability to fix, build or repair anything. He enjoyed teaching others the welding techniques he had learned through the years and was always willing to help others. His other true passions were fishing and hunting with his friends and family. In 1946, he and his brothers began going on an annual hunting trip in Scott City, Kan., and this tradition still being carried on with the younger generations today. Pete is survived by his daughter, Dorothy Perry and husband, Martin, of Springdale; two grandsons, Jeff Perry and wife, Carmel, of Lincoln, Ark., and Craig Perry and wife, Tandi, of Springdale, and one granddaughter, Alisa Smith and husband, Craig, of Springdale; 11 great-grandchildren, Tyler, Josh, Zac, Catelyn, Megan, Nicole, Caleb, Camden, Evan, Levi and Cody; also, a great-great-grandchild on-the-way; many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn Holt Goodmon; one grandson, Mike Perry; four brothers, George Goodmon, Thomas "Dude" Goodmon, Bill Edwards and Dutch Edwards. Celebration of Life Services were 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013, at the Christ Church with Dave Cheshier officiating. Burial followed in the Neodesha Cemetery under the direction of the Loran Fawcett Chapel.